Concrete pit and deck construction for platform scales and method of making the same

ABSTRACT

A pit and deck construction for platform scales including a plurality of precast concrete panels joined end-to-end horizontally and secured to a supporting weighbridge to form the deck. The pit walls each comprise a plurality of precast concrete panels joined end-to-end, disposed vertically and supported by the pit floor, and the panels include flanges which when connected to adjacent flanges of adjoining panels form pilasters for supporting the walls. The walls are constructed by supporting a first row of panels a predetermined distance above the pit bottom and then pouring the concrete floor to a level above the bottom edge of the row of panels. A second row of panels then is placed on the first row, being supported thereby, and horizontally adjacent and vertically adjacent panels are connected together.

United States Patent [191 Machala 1 CONCRETE PIT AND DECK CONSTRUCTIONFOR PLATFORM SCALES AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME [76] Inventor: John M.Machala, 54 West Main Street, Corfu, NY. 14036 [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1971[21] Appl. No.: 170,036

[52] [1.8. CI. ..177/l34, 52/169, 52/266 [51] Int. Cl. ..G01g 19/02 58Field of Search 177/132135, 253; 52/169, 266, 602

[56] References Cited I v UNITED STATES PATENTS 212,364 2/1879 Fairbanks..l77/134 796,398 8/1905 Birchard.... ..177/l34 881,700 3/1908 Miller..52/602 1,415,304 5/1922 Bray ....52/602 1,484,206 2/1924 Birkholz...52/602 2,043,697 6/1936 Deichmann ..52/602 2,838,299 6/1958 Reiser eta1.... 177/134 3,195,312 7/1965 Rumsey ..52/l69 3,299,976 1/1967 Boadleet a1... .....177/l34 3,415,023 12/1968 Lebreton ..52/266 3,442,3435/1969 Marion ..177/l34 1 1 Apr. 17, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson AssistantExaminer-Stanley J. Witkowski Attorney--Conrad Christel et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A pit and deck construction for platform scales includinga plurality of precast concrete panels joined end to-end horizontallyand secured to a supporting weighbridge to form the deck. The pit wallseach comprise a plurality of precast concrete panels joined endto-end,disposed vertically and supported by the pit floor, and the panelsinclude flanges which when connected to adjacent flanges of adjoiningpanels form pilasters for supporting the walls. The walls areconstructed by supporting a first row of panels a predetermined distanceabove the pit bottom and then pouring the concrete floor to a levelabove the bottom edge of the row of panels. A second row of panels thenis placed on the first row, being supported thereby, and horizontallyadjacent and vertically adjacent panels are connected together.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 1 H975 SHEET 1 [IF 4 AT TORNEY5.

PATENTED APR] T1973 SHEET 2 BF 4 BY 7 M 7 6 ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to platform scales for weighing heavyvehicles such as trucks and, more particularly, to a new and improvedpit and deck construction for such scales.

Platform scales for weighting heavy vehicles such as trucks include apit below the ground level provided with a floor and walls formed fromconcrete. Within the pitis a'weighbridge and scale lever system, and adeck, usually of concrete, is supported by the weighbridge and leverswithin the walls and at or near the ground level. The deck is movable upand down as a weight is placed on the deck or removed from it, andcorresponding movements of the weigh-bridge and levers are transmittedto a scale indicator which provides a reading of the magnitude of theweight.

Heretofore the floor, walls and deck have been formed by pouringconcrete at the scale site. This requires a considerable number of manhours to assemble a complete scale installation, and a waiting period isrequired to allow sufficient time for the concrete to harden prior touse. Such labor requirements and delays all result in considerableexpense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION the same for platform scales wherein either orboth of the deck and the pit walls comprise a plurality of precastconcrete panels which are suitably joined together at the scale site toprovide an assembly which is ready for substantially immediate use.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pit and deckconstruction having sufficient strength and rigidity so as to providethe required degree of safety and to have a relatively long wear life.

The present invention provides a pit and deck construction for platformscales including a plurality of precast concrete panels joinedend-to-end horizontally to form the deck along the scale weighbridge andsupported by the same. The pit walls comprise a plurality of precastconcrete panels joined end-to-end, disposed vertically and supported bythe pit floor. The walls are constructed by supporting a'first row ofthe panels a predetermined distance above the pit bottom and thenpouring the concrete floor to a level above the bottom edge of the firstrow of panels. A second row of panels then is placed on the first row,being supported thereby, and horizontally adjacent and verticallyadjacent panels are connected-together.

The foregoing and additional advantages and characterizing features ofthe present invention will become clearly apparent upon a reading of theensuing detailed description together with the including drawingwherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a top plan view of adeck and pit construction for platform scales according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the construction of FIG. 1 but without thedeck thereof and as it would appear removed from the ground;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly diagrammatic, andon an enlarged scale illustrating the weighbridge and lever systemwithin the scale pit and deck construction of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken about on line 5-5 in FIG. 1and illustrating the scale weighbridge and lever system in diagrammaticform;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken about on line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevational view of the side wall panels in theconstruction of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the panel construction of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged elevational view of the end wall panels in theconstruction of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the panel construction of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken about on line ll 1 1 in FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now toFIGS. 1-3, the structure provided by the present invention comprises adeck 10 disposed at or near the ground level and comprising a pluralityof precast concrete panels suitably joined or bonded together andsupported by the scale weighbridge and lever system which presently willbe described. In an illustrative scale installation, deck 10 wouldinclude sixteen panels 12 each approximately 10 feet long by 4 feet wideby 6 inches thick, and one panel 12' would be included adjacent one endof deck 10 and of the same width and thickness but having a slightlylonger length, about 5 feet 10 inches, to accommodate a manhold 13provided therein which allows access to the scale region beneath deck 10for maintenance purposes.

The scale pit according to the present invention includes a floor 16located below the ground level. Floor 16 preferably is of concretepoured and cast at the scale site, and according to the foregoingillustration a typical floor 16 is 73 feet long by 13 feet wide by 1foot deep. A plurality of piers 18 are provided in floor 16, such as bybeing cast integrally therewith, for supporting the lever system,weighbridge and deck 10. The particular size and elevation of each pier18 together with the locations of the various piers are determined bythe characteristics of the particular scale mechanism which is to beinstalled.

The scale pit construction of the present invention further comprises apair of spaced apart side walls 20 and spaced apart end walls 21 joiningcorresponding ends of the side walls, the walls 20, 21 extendingvertically upwardly from floor 16 and spaced a slight distance from theperiphery of deck 10 whereby deck is movable vertically with theweighbridge in response to the presence or absence of a load thereon.Each side wall 20 is formed by a plurality of precast concrete side wallpanels 22 which panels are arranged end-to-end in a first or lower rowsupported by floor 16 and secured thereto in a manner to be described,and in a second or upper row of panels resting on and supported by thelower row. Panels 22 in the two rows forming each side wall 20 aresubstantially coplanar and are joined together by means to be described.Each panel 22 has a planar body portion 24 and spaced-apart flanges 25,26 extending outwardly from opposite edges of a panel 22 in the samedirection and substantially normal to the plane of body portion 24. Whenpanels 22 are assembled in position, flanges 25, 26 are disposedvertically, and adjacent flanges of horizontally adjoining panelscooperate to form together a pilaster which supports wall 20. Accordingto the foregoing example of a satisfactory scale installation, each sidewall panel 22 is about 10 feet long by 2 1% feet wide by 6 inches thick,and seven panels are included in each row forming a single side wall 20.In this illustrative arrangement each side wall 20 would be providedwith six pilasters spaced therealong and formed by cooperating adjacentflanges of the seven panels in each wall.

Each end wall 21 is formed by a plurality of precast concrete end wallpanels 28, there being in the present illustration a first or lower rowincluding two panels 28 arranged end-to-end supported by floor 16 andsecured thereto in a manner to be described, and a second row of two endwall panels 28 resting on and supported by the lower row. Panels 28 inthe two rows forming each end'wall 21 are substantially coplanar and arejoined together by means to be described. Each end wall panel 28includes a planar body portion 29 and a single flange 30 extendingoutwardly from one edge of panel.28 in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to body portion 29'. The four end wall panels 28 which areassembled together to form each end wall 21 are positioned relative toeach other so that the flanges 30 together form a single pilaster whichsupports the corresponding-end wall. According tojthe foregoingillustrative example, end wall panels 28 each are about 6 '4 feet longby 2 b feet high by about 6 inches thick.

A relatively small extension of the scale pit is designated generally at33 and it provides a space for a lever projecting from the lever systembelow deck 10 as well as providing support for a scale dial and relatedequipment which rests on top of extension 33. Extension 33 is providedwith a floor, walls and top which preferably are formed of concrete castat the scale site. The side wall panels 22 adjacent extension 33 wouldbe provided with a suitable opening through which the aforementionedlever would project from the lever system below deck 10.

Deck 10 is movably supported by a weighbridge and scale lever system.The scale lever system formsno part of the present invention andaccordingly will be only briefly described. The particular arrangementshown is merely illustrative of various types of scale lever systemswhich can be used with the deck and pit construction provided by thepresent invention. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, deck 10 rests on apair of spacedapart I beams 38, 39 which extend longitudinally beneathdeck 10 and which are joined at spaced locations therealong by laterallyextending connecting beams 40. Deck 10 and the weighbridge comprisingbeams 38-40 are movably supported by a scale lever system which in turnis supported from floor 16 by piers 18, connection between the leversand piers 18 being provided by bracket members 41. In particular, alever shown schematically at 42 extends longitudinally beneath deck 10and actually comprises a plurality of interconnected levers. Lever 42 isconnected through a suitable means shown schematically at 43 to abracket 41 extending from a pier 18. The lever system also includes anarrangement of laterally extending levers 44, 45 as shown in FIG. 5,each lever extending outwardly from a connection at one end to lever 45and attached at the opposite end to a corresponding one of the meansindicated schematically at 47,48 which, in turn, are supported throughbrackets 41 to corresponding piers 18. Similar arrangements of laterallyextending levers are provided at locations spaced along the lever 42. Amore detailed description of lever systems for use in platform scalesand whichcan be included in conjunction with the pit and deckconstruction of the present invention may be obtained in readilyavailable literature as well as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,266,585 and3,442,343.

FIG. 6 illustrates in further detail the construction of deck panels 12and the manner in which adjacent panels are joined end-to-endhorizontally along the scale weighbridge. Deck panels 12 and 12' areprecast of concrete ratedat 4000 pounds per square inch with entrainedair in an amount from about 6 percent to about 8 percent by volume. Theconcrete should be formed with a minimum of 585 pounds of cement percubic yard of concrete and a maximum slump of 4 inches. The aggregateswithin the concrete must meet the particularstate requirements forpaving, and, for example, the New York State Department ofTransportation requirement for the maximum. coarse aggregate size is0.75 inch. Each ofthe panels 12, 12' is reinforced by using ASTMA6l5-60j grade rods and'by using galvanized mesh of grade ASTM A ratedat 70,000 p.s.i.

As shown in detail in FIG. 6, each of the panels 12 in-- cluded in deck10 is reinforced by rods indicated at 50 and 51 embedded therein andlocated near the top and bottom surfaces of panel 12 and extendinggenerally at right-angles to each other. In particular, rods 50 are ofthe number 8 variety and extend lengthwise of each panel 12. In a panel12 having a width of about four feet there are eight rods 50substantially equally spaced relative to each other and to the topsurface of panel 12, and eleven rods 50 substantially equally spacedrelative to each other and to the bottom surface of panel 12. Rods 51extend generally along the top and bottom surfaces and edges of panel 12and are of the 412-48 type. Furthermore, rods 51 are trained aroundselected ones of the rods 50 as shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 5 itcan be seen that rods 50 are hooked at each end thereof around acorresponding rod-51. Panel 12' is reinforced by a similar arrangementincluding ten rods 50' of number 8 variety extending lengthwise alongand below the top surface of panel 12' and 16 rods 50' of number 8variety extending lengthwise along and apaced from the bottom surface ofpanel 12'. Similarly, a series of rods 51 extend along the width ofpanel 12' and are trained around particular ones of the rods 50.

Panels 12 and 12 are provided with recesses 56 and 56' extendinglengthwise along opposite sides. Recesses 56, 56' extend from the topsurface of each panel 12, 12', respectively, for a depth of about 2inches. When adjacent panels are brought into proximity for assemblingdeck 10, corresponding recesses 56 of adjacent panels cooperate toprovide a plurality of grooves spaced at regular increments along deck10. The grooves are filled with a plastic joint material, for examplethat which meets Federal specification SS-S-l64.

Panels 12 and 12' each are provided with weld plates 60 and 60,respectively, in the bottom surfaces thereof, there being four weldplates in each panel. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, each weld plate 60 and60' comprises a plate set into the bottom surface of panel 12, 12',securement to the panel being provided by a rod embedded within theconcrete and joined at each end to the plate. The weld plates 60, 60'are tack welded to l beams 38, 39 as shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, thespacing of weld plates 60, 60' relative to the periphery of panel 12,12' will be determined by the lateral distance between beams 38, 39which, in turn, is determined by the particular scale lever system to beinstalled.

FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 illustrate in further detail the construction of sidewall panels 22 and the manner in which they are assembled to form theside walls of the scale pit. Panels 22 are precast of concrete which israted at 4000 pounds per square inch with entrained air in an amount offrom about 6 percent to about 8 percent by volume. The concrete forpanels 22 should be formed with a minimum of 585 pounds of cement percubic yard of concrete and a maximum slump of 4 inches. The size of theaggregates in the concrete is determined by the requirements of theparticular state of interest, for example the New York State Depart mentof Transportation requirements specify a maximum coarse aggregate sizeof 0.75 inch. Reinforcing rods for panels 22 is of ASTM 615-40 grade,and galvanized mesh of ASTM A185 grade rated at 70,000 p.s.i. isemployed. Panels 22 are precast to the indicated shape having a planarmain body portion 24 and flanges 25, 26 at opposite ends of body portion24 each projecting outwardly in the same direction and at substantiallya right angle to the plane of body portion 24. Flanges 25, 26 of eachpanel 22 extend along the entire width thereof.

As described hereinabove, the pit side walls 20 are constructed byassembling panels 22 in a lower row supported by floor l6 and an upperrow supported by the lower row of panels22. The panels 22 in the lowerrow are suitably supported while the concrete for floor 16 is poured toa level above the bottom edge of the panels 22 thereby providing akeyway for the wall as will be described in more detail presently. Eachof the panels 22 of the lower row is provided with a groove 68 along thetop edge thereof and extending lengthwise of panel 22 as shown in FIG.5. The bottom edge of each panel 22 of the upper row is provided with atongue or projection 69 extending along the entire length thereof. Inother words, the upper panels are provided with a bottom edge shaped forfitting in groove 68. When each panel 22 of the upper row is placed on acorresponding panel 22 of the lower row, tongue 69 sets in or isreceived by groove 68, the two being aligned whereby the upper and lowerpanels are substantially coplanar. In addition, the panels 22 of theupper row are provided with bores 71 for receiving threaded rods 72 forconnecting adjacent or corresponding upper and lower panels 22 together.For example there are three generally vertical bores 71 provided in eachpanel 22, each bore having a diameter of l /4; inch and formed by an airtube while panel 22 is being cast in its form or mold. Both the top andbottom panels 22 are provided with generally horizontal bores 74 throughflanges 25, 26 at vertically spacedlocations for receiving bolts whichconnect horizontally adjacent panels 22 in each row, for example thebolts designated 75 in F IG. 5

Each panel 22 is reinforced by a plurality of rods 78, each of number 3type, extending lengthwise of panel 22. With each panel 22 being about 2b feet wide, each is provided with four rods 78 horizontally disposednear the front and rear surfaces of main body portion 24. Each panel 22is reinforced further by a plurality of rods 80, also of number 3 type,which extend generally perpendicular to rods 78. With each panel 22being about 10 feet long eleven rods 80 are disposed near each of thefront and rear surfaces of main body portion 24. In the lower row of thepanels 22, it will be noted that rods 80 project from the bottom edge ofpanels 22 into the poured concrete floor 16. As shown in FIG. 5, therods 80 disposed near the inner surface of the panels 22 extenddownwardly in a vertical direction into floor 16 whereupon they are bentor turned and extend further in a generally horizontal and outwarddirection. The rods 80 disposed near the outer surface of panel 22extend vertically downwardly into floor 16 whereupon they are turned orbent and extend further in a generally horizontal and outward direction.Flanges 2 5, 26 of each panel 22 are reinforced by bars 82 and 83 whichextend from main body portion 24 into and around flanges 25, 26 ingenerally horizontal and opposite directions and near the outer surfacesthereof as shown in FIG. 8.

FIGS. 9-11 illustrate in further detail the structure of end wall panels28. Panels 28 are precast of concrete having the same characteristics asthe concrete used in casting side wall panels 22. Likewise, thereinforcing is according to the same grades and specifications as thatof panels 22. End wall panels 28 are cast to a shape having a planarmain body portion 29 and a single flange 30 extending from one edge ofpanel 28 in a direction substantially perpendicular to body portion 29.At each end of the pit constructed according to the present invention,two end wall panels 28 are set into floor 16 and supported in a mannersimilar to panels 22 whereby the wall provides a keyway. A groove 85 isprovided along the top edge of each of the two lower end wall panels 28.On each of the two upper end wall panels 28 the bottom edge is providedwith a tongue or projection 86 which sets in groove 85 when the endwalls are assembled in a manner similar to assembly of the side walls20. Each of the upper end wall panels 28 is provided with bores 89 forreceiving threaded rods 90 for connecting adjacent or correspondingupper and lower panels 28. For example, three bores 89 are provided,each being generally vertical and having a diameter of 1 7 8 inches, andare formed by an air tube while panel 28 is in its form or mold duringcasting. All

i type and positioned near the front and rear surfaces of main bodyportion 29. Four rods 94 are located near each face. Each panel 28 isreinforced further by a plurality of rods 96, also of number 3 type,disposed generally perpendicular to rods 94. Seven rods 96 are locatednear each face of body portion 29, and rods 96 of the lower panels 28extend into floor 16 in a manner similar to that of the rods 80 includedin the lower side wall panels 22. In addition, flanges 30 are reinforcedby bars 98, 99 extending horizontally from body portion 29 into andaround each flange 30 near the outer surfaces thereof. End wall panels28 also are provided with bores 100 along the edge opposite flange 30for receiving bolts for joining end wallpanels 28 to correspondingpanels 22 at corresponding ends of the pit side walls. Y W The method ofconstructing the scale pit and deck according to the present inventionis performed in the following manner. A'n excavation is made at thescale installation site which usually is adjacent a highway. Theexcavation is made of a suitable size and depth depending upon the typeof scale to be installed. The bottom of theexcavation is provided withthe required amount of foundation filler, such as crushed stone orgravel, depending upon building regulations and the type of scale to beinstalled. Then therequired number of side wall panels 22 and end wallpanels 28 are placed in the bottom of the excavation to provide thelowerkeyway supporting the panels 22, 28 which are set into the floor 16.

The next step according to the method of the present invention isplacing the upper row of side wall panels 22 and end wall panels 28 ontothe lower row.-

Preferably this is done after floor 16 has sufflciently hardened. Anidentical number of side wall panels 22 and end wall panels 28 arelowered into the pit. Groove 68 on the upper edge of each lower sidewall panel 28 receives the tongue or projection 69 on the lower edge ofthe upper sidewall panel 22. Likewise, the upper end wall panels 28 arepositioned on the lower panels 28 whereby groove 85 receives tongue orprojection 86.

' Rods 72 are inserted to connect vertically adjacent side wall panels22 together and rods 90 are inserted to connect together verticallyadjacent end wall panels 28.

row of panels forming the two side walls and two end walls. Each panel22, 28 is suitably supported by means such as three-legged jack devicesand at a predeter-- mined distance, for example about 8 inches, abovethey bottom of the excavation. According to the foregoing example, atotal of fourteen side wall panels 22 would would be connected tocorresponding side wall panels as previously described. Then concrete ispouredinto the bottom of the excavation to form floor 16. Accordingto-the foregoing example, floor 16 is poured-to 'a thickness of 1 foot,whereby, each of the panels 22, 28 is set into floor 16 for a distanceof 4 inches below the surface of floor 16. A suitable arrangement offorms would be provided to define piers 18 of the required size andrelative location. Floor 16 is reinforced by a plurality 'of' rods 101,shown-in FIG. 5, each of the number 5 type. When floor l6 hardens, itprovides .a

Horizontally adjacent panels are bolted together and the end wall panelsare bolted to corresponding side wall panels in a manner similar to thatof the lower rows. v i

Following this the weighbridge and lever system, previously described,isinstalled. Then deck 10 is assembled by bringing adjacent panels 12together so that recesses 56 define the grooves as previously described.The panels 12 are secured to the weighbridge by tackwelding the weldplates 60 to l beams 38, 39. The grooves defined by recesses 56 areprovided with filler material. The upper peripheral edge of deck 10 isprovided with an angle iron 105, and a similar angle iron 106 isprovided around the inner edge periphery of the pit walls as shown inFIG. 5.

It is therefore apparent that the present invention accomplishes itsintended objects. Deck panels 12 and wall panels 22 and 28 all can beprecast of concrete at a manufacturing site thereby affording theeconomies of such precasting techniques. Then the "panels can be shippedto the scale installation site whereupon they can be immediatelyassembled. By reducing the amount of concrete that must be actuallypoured at the scale site, further economyis realizedJFurthermore thescale pit and deck construction of the present invention requiresarelatively shorter waiting time until ultimate use. The waliconstruction of thepresent invention, including a lower row of panelsset into a poured concrete floor and supported thereby together with acorresponding upper row of panels supported on the lower row providesa'wall construction which is selfsupporting and sufficiently strong,convenient and economical to construct, and has a relatively long wearlife. Similarly, the deck of the present invention including a pluralityof precast concrete panels suitably joined together has sufficientstrength and rigidity so as to provide the required degree of safety andhas a relatively long wear life. I

While a single embodiment of the present invention has been described indetail, this is done by way. of illustration without throught oflimitation.

I claim: 1

1. in a pit and deck construction forplatforni scales used in weighingvehicles and the like wherein a scale lever system and weighbridge aresupported by the horizontal floor of said pit and wherein said deck issupported by said weighbridge, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of precast concrete panels forming spaced-apart pit sidewalls, said panels of each of said walls being arranged end-to-end in afirst row on said pit floor and end-to-end in a second row resting onsaid first row of panels, said panels of said first and second rowsbeing substantially vertically coplanar, each of said panels including agenerally planar body portion and a pair of spacedapart flangesextending outwardly from opposite edges of said panel in the samedirection and substantially normal to the plane of said body portion,said flanges being disposed generally vertical and adjacent flanges ofadjoining panels of each of said rows being connected together andforming pilasters for supporting said row;

b. means connecting vertically adjacent panels of said first and secondrows together;

c. a plurality of precast concrete panels forming spaced-apart pit endwalls joining corresponding ends of said side walls, said panels of eachof said end walls being arranged end-to-end in a first row on said pitfloor and end-to-end in a second row resting on said first row ofpanels, said panels of said first and second rows being substantiallyvertically coplanar and each of said panels having an outwardly directedgenerally vertical portion which is connectedto a corresponding portionof an adjoining panel of the row to form a pilaster for supporting saidrow; and

means connecting vertically adjacent panels of said first and secondrows together.

2. A pit and deck construction according to claim 1 wherein said panelsin said first rows of said side and end walls are set in said floor withthe bottom edges of said panels being below the surface of said floorwhereby said panels are supported by said floor, and wherein said panelsof said first rows are provided with a groove along the top edge thereofand said panels of said second rows are provided with a bottom edgeshaped for fitting in the groove of the corresponding panel of saidfirst row, and including a plurality of connecting rods extendingvertically through said panels of said second rows and intocorresponding ones of said panels of said first rows.

3. A pit and deck construction as defined in claim 1 wherein two endwall panels are included in each of said rows and wherein each of saidend wall panels includes a planar body portion and a flange extendingoutwardly from one edge of said panel substantially normal to the planeof said body portion, said flange being disposed generally vertical andconnected to the flange of the adjoining panel in the row, whereby asingle pilaster is formed on each end wall for supporting said wall byadjacent flanges of adjoining panels in each row being connectedtogether.

4. A pit and deck construction as defined in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid panels is precast of concrete rated at 4,000 pounds per square inchand formed with a minimum of about 585 pounds of cement per cubic yardof concrete and wherein each of said panels is reinforced to withstand aforce of 70,000 pounds per square inch.

5. A pit and deck construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said deckcomprises a plurality of precast concrete panels joined end-to-endhorizontally along said weighbridge and supported by said wei hbridge.

6. In a pit and deck construction for pla form scales used in weighingvehicles and the like wherein a scale lever system and weighbridge aresupported by the horizontal floor of said pit and located within thevertical walls of said pit and wherein said deck is supported by saidweighbridge, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of precast concrete panels forming said deck, said panelsbeing joined end-to-end horizontally along said weighbridge;

b. a plurality of spaced-apart members provided in one surface of eachof said deck panels for securing said panels to said weighbridge; and

0. each of said panels being of precast concrete rated at 4000 poundsper square inch with entrained air in an amount from about 6 percent toabout 8 percent by volume and formed with a minimum of about 585 poundsof cement per cubic yard of concrete and a maximum slump of about fourinches and wherein each of said panels is reinforced to withstanda forceof 70,000 pounds per square inch.

- 7. A pit and deck construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said pitwalls are formed by a plurality of precast concrete panels, each of saidpanels being supported by said pit floor and including a planar bodyportion and a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending outwardly fromopposite edges of said panel in the same direction and substantiallynormal to the plane of said body portion, said flanges being disposedgenerally vertical and adjacent flanges of adjoining panels beingconnected together to form pilasters for supporting said walls.

* k t K

1. In a pit and deck construction for platform scales used in weighingvehicles and the like wherein a scale lever system and weighbridge aresupported by the horizontal floor of said pit and wherein said deck issupported by said weighbridge, the improvement comprising: a. aplurality of precast concrete panels forming spaced-apart pit sidewalls, said panels of each of said walls being arranged end-to-end in afirst row on said pit floor and endto-end in a second row resting onsaid first row of panels, said panels of said first and second rowsbeing substantially vertically coplanar, each of said panels including agenerally planar body portion and a pair of spaced-apart flangesextending outwardly from opposite edges of said panel in the samedirection and substantially normal to the plane of said body portion,said flanges being disposed generally vertical and adjacent flanges ofadjoining panels of each of said rows being connected together andforming pilasters for supporting said row; b. means connectingvertically adjacent panels of said first and second rows together; c. aplurality of precast concrete panels forming spaced-apart pit end wallsjoining corresponding ends of said side walls, said panels of each ofsaid end walls being arranged end-to-end in a first row on said pitfloor and end-to-end in a second row resting on said first row ofpanels, said panels of said first and second rows being substantiallyvertically coplanar and each of said panels having an outwardly directedgenerally vertical portion which is connected to a corresponding portionof an adjoining panel of the row to form a pilaster for supporting saidrow; and d. means connecting vertically adjacent panels of said firstand second rows together.
 2. A pit and deck construction according toclaim 1 wherein said panels in said first rows of said side and endwalls are set in said floor with the bottom edges of said panels beingbelow the surface of said floor whereby said panels are supported bysaid floor, and wherein said panels of said first rows are provided witha groove along the top edge thereof and said panels of said second rowsare provided with a bottom edge shaped for fitting in the groove of thecorresponding panel of said first row, and including a plurality ofconnecting rods extending vertically through said panels of said secondrows and into corresponding ones of said panels of said first rows.
 3. Apit and deck construction as defined in claim 1 wherein two end wallpanels are included in each of said rows and wherein each of said endwall panels includes a planar body portion and a flange extendingoutwardly from one edge of said panel substantially normal to the planeof said body portion, said flange being disposed generally vertical andconnected to the flange of the adjoining panel in the row, whereby asingle pilaster is formed on each end wall for supporting said wall byadjacent flanges of adjoining panels in each row being connectedtogether.
 4. A pit and deck construction as defined in claim 1 whereineach of said panels is precast of concrete rated at 4,000 pounds persquare inch and formed with a minimum of about 585 pounds of cement percubic yard of concrete and wherein each of said panels is reinforced towithstand a force of 70,000 pounds per square inch.
 5. A pit and deckconstruction as defined in claim 1 wherein said deck comprises aplurality of precast concrete panels joined end-to-end horizontallyalong said weighbridge and supported by said weighbridge.
 6. In a pitand deck construction for platform scales used in weighing vehicles andthe like wherein a scale lever system and weighbridge are supported bythe horizontal floor of said pit and located within the vertical wallsof said pit and wherein said deck is supported by said weighbridge, theimprovement comprising: a. a plurality of precast concrete panelsforming said deck, said panels being joined end-to-end horizontallyalong said weighbridge; b. a plurality of spaced-apart members providedin one surface of each of said deck panels for securing said panels tosaid weighbridge; and c. each of said panels being of precast concreterated at 4000 pounds per square inch with entrained air in an amountfrom about 6 percent to about 8 percent by volume and formed with aminimum of about 585 pounds of cement per cubic yard of concrete and amaximum slump of about four inches and wherein each of said panels isreinforced to withstand a force of 70, 000 pounds per square inch.
 7. Apit and deck construction as defined in claim 6 wherein said pit wallsare formed by a plurality of precast concrete panels, each of saidpanels being supported by said pit floor and including a planar bodyportion and a pair of spaced-apart flanges extending outwardly fromopposite edges of said panel in the same direction and substantiallynormal to the plane of said body portion, said flanges being disposedgenerally vertical and adjacent flanges of adjoining panels beingconnected together to form pilasters for supporting said walls.